Domestic appliance



Oct. 31, 1961 K. o. slssoN ETAL 3,006,216

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed May 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 THE IR ATTORNEYOct. 31, 1961r Filed May 28, 1958 K. O. SISSON ET Al.

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Emo/v l. 9m/amv 'm THE/R ATTO NEYUnited States Patent O 3,006,216 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Kenneth 0. Sissonand Byron L. Brncken, Dayton, h10, assignors to General MotorsCorporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 28,1958, Ser. No. 738,361 4 Claims. (Cl. 74-665) This invention relates toa domestic appliance and more particularly to an improved transmissionfor a washing machine.

The continuing development in certain types of synthetic fabricscommonly referred to as wash and wear fabrics has necessitated changesin washing machine cycles to assure a satisfactory washing action forsuch fabrics. It has been determined that certain spin speeds areharmful to such fabrics and impart wrinkles thereto which are diicult toremove. Furthermore, severity of washing action also tends to increasewear on these fabrics. Copending application S.N. 738,330, now PatentNo. 2,974,542, filed concurrently herewith shows one washer designwherein an agitating and spinning mechanism is provided for selectivelyobtaining two speed spin yand two speed agitate from a single speed,reversible motor. In this application there is disclosed a low costwasher wherein a single spin speed and a single agitate speed ofdifferent value produces a satisfactory, clothes washer for the wash andwear fabrics. Where, in such a low cost washer, it is desired to use asingle speed reversible motor to drive the washing machine mechanism fordiffering spin and agitate speeds, certain modifications are necessaryto secure the optimum agitating and spinning speeds. If manufacturingcosts are to be considered, these speeds must be obtained withoutfurther complicating the electrical control arrangements now used onconventional washers and without the addition of gear shifting speedchanges. This invention sets forth an improvement for low cost washingmachines wherein the desired'operating speeds are obtainable withoutmodifying the electrical control system.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a drivingarrangement for a washing machine wherein a screw clutch is utilized toconnect -a driving pulley with the prime mover in accordance with thedirection 0f rotation of said prime mover.

It is also an object of this invention to secure different spin andagitate speeds without electrically actuating a speed reducing means. Amore specific Iadvantage is to eiect a driving arrangement wherein asingle speed motor is adapted to drive ya washing mechanism at one speedwhen rotating in one direction and at a second and different speed whenrotating in the opposite direction.

It is a most specific object of this invention to include a screw clutchbetween a pair of relatively rotatably mounted driving pulleys on theshaft of a reversible single speed motor for obtaining multiple speedwashing f-unctions.

It is also an object of this invention to use a clutching arrangement inwhich a driving disc is selectively engaged with a driving pulley inaccordance with the direction of rotation of a washing machine motor.

Another object of this invention is to obtain a beltless drivingconnection between the prime mover and the washing mechanism wherein apair of conical rollers selec- 3,006,216 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 "icetively drive the mechanism in accordance with the rotation of the primemover.

Further objects `and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the presentinvention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a washing machine with parts brokenaway showing the driving arrangement fora washing machine mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the washing machine mechanismand driving arrangement therefor;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional View of an other embodiment of thenovel screw clutch washing machine driving arrangement; and

FIGURE 4 is an elevational View of a double-ended lead screw havingoppositely directed leads for causing the selective engagement of thewashing machine driving elements.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIGURE l, awashing machine 10 is shown provided with the driving arrangement ofthis invention. The washing machine 10 includes an outer cabinet 12, aninner casing 14 and a centrally located bulkhead 16. Within the cabinet12 is a rotatably mounted washing machine tub 1S. An access door 20overlies the top of tub 18 to provide means for access in placingclothing within the tub 18. An agitator 22 is disposed at the top of ashaft 24 which extends downwardly from tub 18 `and through partition 16into .the washing machine agitate and spin mechanism shown generally at26. An annular flexible support or collar 28 serves indirectly tosupport the tub 18 a spaced distance above the partition 16 but is in noway connected to the tub itself. The shaft 24 is rotatably andrelatively axially movable within a concentric tubular spin shaft 25 towhich the tub 18 is aixed as at 27. The support portion 28 flexiblysupports a stationary outer tubular support housing 30 which enclosesthe 'agitate shaft 24 and spin shaft 25 and about which a washingmachine drive housing 32 is rotatably mounted. Between the rotatablehousing portion 32 and the xed tubular support portion 30 is an annularseal 31 to eifect a substantially sealed joint between the two portions.Relative rotation between the agitate shaft 24 and the spin shaft 25 isprevented by the action of la key 33 which still provides for arelatively vertically slidable connection between the shafts. Theparticular washing action produced by mechanism 26 is such that yarotation of housing 32 in one direction produces a verticalreciprocation of shaft 24 and agitator 22. On the other hand, a rotationof the housing 32 in the opposite direction is adapted to spin thelaundry tub 18 in 'a centrifuging or clothes wringing operation. Thisagitating and spinning mechanism is more clearly set forth in the patentto 'Sisson 2,758,685 issued August 14, 1956. As a prime mover yfor theagitate and spin mechanism 26, a reversible single speed motor 34 isincluded. The motor 34 is arranged in parallel relationship to theagitate 4and spin mechanism 26 and adapted to rotate the drive housingportion 32 thereof by means of a drive belt arrangement shown generallyat 36.

Reference may now be had to FIGURE 2 wherein a more completeunderstanding of the novel driving arrangement of this invention will beset forth. The drive mechanism 26 is shown comprised of a rotatabledrive housing 32 and a fixed tubular support housing 30. Disposed withinthe housing 32 is the agitating shaft 24 at the llower end of which isrotatably and drivingly attached a reciprocating arm 38. The arm 38terminates in a spherical bearing member 40 retained by complementaryspherical socket members 41 within a recess 42 in rotatable housing 32.The arm 38- thus becomes a rocking means for reciprocating shaft 24 whenhousing 32 is rotated in one direction. As set forth in the cited patentto Sisson, a rotation of housing 32 in the opposite direction acts torotate the laundry tub 18 while agitator 22 ceases to agitate. Toimprove the stability of the washing machine mechanism 26 at the iowerend thereof, a snubbing bracket 44 resiliently grips the support shaft30 and transmits mechanism vibrations to a snubbing cup 45 on the bottomof the washing machine 10 (FIG- URE 1).

The patent to Sisson shows but one pulley attached to the rotatablehousing 32. The disadvantage of this arrangement lies in the fact thatboth agitation and spinning must be accomplished at the same motorspeed. As aforesaid, this is not always desirable where the newerfabrics are involved. For example, it may be desirable to spin thefabrics in the wringing or centrifuging process at a high speed ofapproximately 800 rpm whereas an agitating action at this speed wouldproduce unduly severe wear upon the fabrics. This invention thencontemplates the inclusion of means for securing the most desirablesingle speed for agitation and the most desirable speed for spinning. Toaccomplish these results, it is necessary to include two pulleys on therotatable housing 32 of the agitating and spinning mechanism 26. Formedon the housing and Iintegral therewith is a driven spin pulley 46, fromwhich depends in a fixed relationship also to housing 32, a drivenagitate pulley 48. Disposed adjacent the agitating and spinningmechanism 26 and pivotally mounted on brackets 49 is a single speedreversible motor 34 having a shaft 50 in parallel relationship totubular support housing 30. A spring 51 serves to bias the motor 34 awayfrom support shaft 30, thereby to maintain tension on the belts of thepulley system 36, FIGURE 1. The motor 34 is supported from the tubularhousing 30 and stabilized by the action of snubbing bracket 44. Theshaft 50 is formed with a key slot 52 and is adapted to receive adriving spin pulley 54, a driving agitate pulley 56 and a screw clutchshown generally at S8. Locating the pulley S4 on shaft 50 is a snap ring60. The pulley 54 is rotatably mounted relative to motor shaft 50 on abearing 62, the inner race 64 of which is keyed to shaft 50. Immediatelybelow pulley 54 and abutting against the inner race 64 of bearing 62 isa clutch screw portion 66 secured against rotation relative to motorshaft 50 by a key 67. Abutting the bottom of clutch screw 66 is an innerrace 68 of a bearing 70 which serves to carry agitate driving pulley 56.The screw clutch 58 includes also a nut portion 72 having internalthreads adapted to cooperate with the external threads of clutch screw66. The clutch screw 66 has a single thread, leading in one direction,on which nut portion 72 is adapted to turn. Thus, the rotation of motorshaft 50 in one direction will cause the nut member '72 to rise againstthe bottom of pulley 54 and a rotation of shaft S in the oppositedirection will cause this same nut member to move downwardly intoengagement with the top surface of pulley 56. Friction material 74 isbonded to both the top and bottom of the nut member 72 to facilitate adriving relationship between the screw clutch 58 and the selecteddriving pulley. Positively securing the driving pulleys and screw clutchto shaft S0 is a collar 76 of a pump housing 80. The pump housing 80encloses an impeller (not shown) which is attached at one end of themotor shaft S0. Thus, a dual operating 4 function for motor shaft 50 isestablished-driving the' agitating and spinning mechanism 26 and servingas the prime mover for pump 82. In this arrangement, spin driving pulley54 is in juxtaposition to spin driven pulley 46 while agitato drivingpulley 56 is in juxtaposition to agitate driven pulley 48. Completingthis driving relationship are a pair of flexible V-belts 84, 86.

Another embodiment of a s-crew clutch arrangement for dniving an-agitating and spinning mechanism 26 is shown in FIGURES 3 land 4. Inthis embodiment, the rotatable housing 3-2 is formed with a shoulder orflange 88 instead of the pulley l46 of the FIGURE 2 embodiment, and tothis flange is attached, by any suitable fastening means such as bolts90, a driven annular flange or track 92. The Iannular track 92 is formedwith a radially outer agitating driven portion or agitate track 94 and aradially inner spinning driven portion or spin track 96. Again, a singlespeed reversible motor 98 is used in which a motor shaft 100 is placedperpendicular to the axial direction of the `agita/ting and spinningmechanisrn 26 and to the rotatable housing pontion 32. Keyed to motorshaft |100 is a double-ended clutch screw assembly shown generally at102. The clutoh screw assembly 102 includes a right hand spin threadmember 104 and a left hand agitate thread member 106. Interposed betweenthread members 104 and \106 is a stop or washer i108. A similar stop orwasher is placed at one end of the clutch screw assembly 102. Arrangedto cooperate with the spin thread 104 is a truste-conical nut or spindrive roller 112, the radially outer driving surface of which oarri `anannular facing of any suitable friet-ion material 114. A second nut oragitate drive roller 116 -is formed with internal threads which coop--erate with and are complementary to the thread 106. Again, an annularfriction surface 1f18 overlies the outer peripheral edge of thisfrusto-conical roller 116. To assemble thisy embodiment, the stopA AorWasher 110 is placed on motor shaft 100 and located at the motor end ofthe shaft by means of a snap ring 120. Abutting against stop 110 andkeyed to shaft 100 is lagitato thread member l106 on which the roller116 is screwed. Next, the center stop or washer 108 is placed on. shaft100 followed by spin thread member 104. The completed as sembly is heldin place on ymotor shaft 100 by a second snap ring 122. Since the leadsof thread portions y104 and 106 are reversed, the rotation of rn-otorshaft 100 is effective to cause drive rollers 112 and 116 to approacheach other when the motor 98 is turning in one direction and to moveapart when the motor is 'reversed By way o-f example only, consider theparticular arrangement of FIGURE 3 wherein the rotation of motor 98 willbe given as though viewing the motor from the position of 'housing 32.With the motor 98 rotating clockwise, screw clutch or spin drive roller112 will thread itself toward annular track 96 and into drivingengagement therewith. At the same time, the reverse lead of thread `106will cause agit-ate dnive roller '116 to move away from annular track 94and into abutting engagement with stop 110. In this regard, the motor 98now 'serves to rotate housing 32 ina manner to cause laundry tub 18 tospin rapidly in oenttifuging water from the clothes. A counterclookwiserotation of motor 98 will move agitate drive roller 1116 into engagementwith annular track 94 and spin drive roller 112 out of engagement withannular track 96 yand into abutment with stop 108. Powered in thisfashion, the rotatable housing 32 will initiate ya verticalreciprooation of agitator 22.

With reference to the preferred embodiment of FIG- URES l and 2, theoperation of this novel washing machine driving arrangement will be setforth. A load of clothing is placed Within laundry tub 118 throughaccess opening 20 and a washing action started by means of anyconventional washer timer (not shown). Water will be admitted to tub 18and motor 34 will be energized to rotate in a direction to produce avertical reciprocat-ion of 4agitator 22. In particular, motor shaft 50will be rotating in a manner to cause nut portion A72 of Vscrew clutch58 to move axially downwardly in accordance with the lead of clutchscrew 66 into engagement with .the top surface 73 of agitate drivingpulley 56. The inertia or resistance -to rotate of nut 72 issufficiently great to retard the nuts assuming the rotational speed ofshaft 50. Since motor 34 accelerates quickly, the shaft 50 and clutchscrew 66 rotate relatively to the nut member 72, thereby producing anaxial travel of not 72 along the screw 66. Thisrelative motion issubstantially instantaneous and places the screw clutch nut member 72into frictional engagement with pulley 516. In this fashion, pulley 56is driven by `means of motor shaft 50, clutch screw 66, nut member 72and frictional material 74.

After a predetermined period the washing or agitation action will beterminated and a timer switching action will occur to reverse therotation of motor 34. Motor shaft 50 and clutch screw 66 will againaccelerate more rapidly Ithan nut member 72 of clutch 58 whichconsequently will move axial-ly upwardly into engagement with a bottomsurface 71 of spin driving pulley 54. The reversal in rotation of-agitarting and spinning mechanism housing 32 effects a rotation oflaundry tub 18 as taught more fully in the cited patent to Sisson. Wateris centrifugally thrown from tub 18 through openings 19 and falls bygravity into the collecting basin immediately above the centralpartition or bulkhead 16. At the desired point, in the washing cycle,and in accordance with the operation of -any conventional valving means,pump 82 discharges the Water from the washing machine to drain.

It' should now be clear that an improved driving arrangement has beenprovided for the agitating and spinning mechanism of the type taught inthe Sisson patent which will give different speeds without additionalcontrols or modications to the wiring arrangements of washing machinesemploying this mechanism.

It should be recognized that the lead of the threads on clutch screw 66of the first embodiment and those screw members 104, 106 on the secondembodiment must be such that the clutch or nut members 72, 112 and 116respectively will readily disengage from their respective drivensurfaces upon reversal of the motor. Note also that the assembly 102could be made as one part instead of the built-up arrangement as shown.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, an enclosinghousing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each of the shaftmeans, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft means protrudingout of said housing, means preventing relative rotation of said twoshaft means, said housing including a relatively stationary portionenclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatable withrespect to the normally stationary portion and said shaft means, meansresponsive -to said rotatable portion for reciprocating one of saidshafts or rotating the other of said shafts, a driven flange on saidrotatable portion having a nomhorizontal agit-ate section forreciprocating one of said shafts and a nonhorizontal spin section forrotating the other of said shafts, a reversible, single speed motor forrotating said rotatable portion, said motor having a shaft substantiallynormal to said rotatable portion, and means responsive to the operationof said motor `for varying the speed of said rotatable portion, saidresponsive means including an agitate drive member having a drivingsurface parallel to said agitate section, an agitate screw member keyedto said shaft for directing said agitate drive member into engagementwith said agitate section, when said motor is rotated in one direction,a spin drive member having a driving surface parallel to said spinsection, and

-a spin screw member keyed to said shaft for said spin drive member intoengagement with said spin section when said motor is rotated in anotherdirection.

2. In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, an enclosinghousing completely enclosing the one adjacent end of each of the shaftmeans, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft means protrudingont of said housing, means preventing relative rotation of said twovshaft means, said housing including a relatively-stationary portionenclosing said shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatable withrespect to the normally stationary portion and said shaft means, meansresponsive to said rotatable portion for reciprocating one of saidshafts or rotating the other of said shafts, a driven ange on saidrotatable portion having a conical agitate surface for reciprocating oneof said shafts and a conical spin surface for rotating the other of saidshafts, a reversible, a single speed motor for rotating said rotatableportion, said motor having a shaft substantially perpendicular to saidrotatable portion, and means responsive .to the operation of said motorfor varying the speed of said rotatable portion, said responsive meansincluding a conical agitate drive member, an agitafte screw member keyedto said shaft for directing said agitate drive member into engagementwith said agitate surface, when said motor is rotated in one direction,a conical spin drive member, a spin screw member keyed to said shaft fordirecting said spin drive member into engagement with said spin surface,when said motor is rotated in another direction.

3. In combination with a vertically reciprocating type washing machine,two shaft means concentrically arranged, `an enclosing housingcompletely enclosing the one adjacent end of each of the shaft means,the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft means protruding out ofsaid housing, means preventing relative rotation of said two shaftmeans, said housing including a relatively stationary portion enclosingsaid shaft means and a rotatable portion rotatable with respect to thenormally stationary portion, said housing being provided with asubstantially sealed joint between the two portions, both of said shaftmeans being rotatably mounted with respect to both of said portions ofsaid housing, and means for rotating said rotatable portion in onedirection at one speed to reciprocate one of said shafts and to rotatesaid rotatable portion in another direction at another speed to rotatethe other of said shafts, said last-named means including a reversiblesingle-speed motor having a shaft axially parallel to said rotatableportion, said shaft supporting a first pulley relatively rotatablymounted on said shaft, a second pulley smaller than said first pulleyrelatively rotatably mounted on said shaft, a screw keyed to said shaftbetween said pulleys and a nut relatively rotatably carried on saidscrew, said nut having a frictional material on its upper surface fordrivingly engaging said rst pulley when said shaft is rotated in onedirection to rotate said rotatable portion yat one speed and said nuthaving a frictional material on its lower surface for drivingly engagingsaid second pulley when said shaft is ro tated in another direction torotate said rotatable portion at said other speed.

4. 'In combination, two shaft means concentrically arranged, anenclosing housing completely enclosing the one 4adjacent end of each oftheshaft means, the opposite adjacent ends of each of said shaft meansprotrading ont of said housing, means preventing relative rotation ofsaid two shaft means, said housing including a relatively stationaryportion enclosing said shaft means and -a rotatable portion rotatablewith respect to the normally stationary portion and said shaft means,reversible single speed means for rotating said rotatable portion andhaving its axis at an angle to the axis of said rotatable portion, meansresponsive to said rotatable portion for either reciprocating one ofsaid shaft means or rotating the other of said shaft means, and meansre;v sponsive to the operation of said reversible 'single speed meansfor varying the vspeed of said rotatable portion, said rotatable pontonincluding an annular flangehaving -a biased agitate track and a biased`spin track and said last-named means including a comical agitare drivemember, Ian agitate screw member attached to said reversible singlespeed Imeans' for directing said agitaite drive member into enga-gementwith said agitate track, a conical spin drive member, land a spin screwmember attached to said reversible single speed means for diresting saidspin drive member into engagement with said spin track.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Y SissonAug. 14, 1956

